567 
it, and therefore, if they do sometime—well, he just says, “We can’t 
be in a position to even estimate when we might be able to do this.” 
Do you want to comment on that ? 
Is that the way to run a government or run a railroad or run a steam- 
ship line or run a Department of Transportation or run a commission ? 
Just talk about it in any way you want and then proceed with your 
statement, please. 
Mr. Brees. Mr. Chairman, I don’t think I can comment on the 
priorities that Mr. Ash has set for his Advisory Council in the con- 
sideration of the various organizational matters which have been re- 
ferred to him. It is my understanding that this was one of several 
requests made to the Council for their consideration. It is also my 
understanding that this is not the only avenue that this administra- 
tion is employing to consider both the organizational implications and 
the other implications of the report of the Marine Resources Commis- 
sion. There is currently a study underway in the White House staff 
considering many of the recommendations of the Marine Science Com- 
mission, and my understanding is that there will be an independent 
view developed, that is, independent of the Ash Advisory Council, at 
some date. 
I don’t think a date has been set for that either. Although there is a 
strong feeling that the major initiative that is posed here by the Com- 
mission on Marine Science, Engineering and Resources is something 
that is of great terest to ‘the administration, it is felt that it needs 
very detailed study before we arrive at conclusions. 
Mr. Lennon. Mr. Secretary, now if you want to return to line 12 
of your statement, you may proceed with the statement. 
Mr. Brees. This Council is to explore the whole range of problems 
relating to executive branch organization and to advise the President 
on the Commission’s proposals while taking into account related prob- 
lems of Government organization. 
Pending the completion of the Advisory Council’s review and the 
dey elopment of the administration’s position on executive organiza- 
tion for marine and atmospheric matters, it would not be appropriate 
for me to discuss the organizational aspects of the Commission’s recom- 
mendations in detail. I will, however, later in this statement, comment 
on the effect on the Department of Transportation of the enactment 
of H.R. 13247 and bring to your attention certain considerations which 
very much concern the Department. 
The bulk of the Commission’s report deals, however, not with organ- 
ization but with the scope and content of problems facing the Nation 
in the utilization of our oceans and their resources. We in the Depart- 
ment of Transportation are most impressed with the size of the task 
which the Commission undertook and the substantial accomplishment 
which its report reflects. 
While the recommendations of the Commission are praiseworthy 
and represent the carefully assembled viewpoints of a large number 
of highly intelligent and qualified people, there is no ranking of the 
priorities which ‘should be assigned these goals, either in reoard each 
to the other, or more importantly, in regard to other national goals. 
This is not intended as a criticism of Dr. Stratton’s Commission. This 
